Origins:
Duty, Creativity, and Defiance Sonia Shobhan —law graduate (B.L., M.L., Stamford University, Dhaka)—returned to Rangpur in October 2010 after her father’s passing and her mother’s sudden illness. Choosing family over a traditional legal career, Sonia sought a way to earn responsibly from home. She turned to needlework, a skill learned from her mother, and on January 1, 2011, planted the first seeds of her venture.
In those early days, she sold products door to door and encountered scorn—a relative called her a “hawker (feriwala).” She reframed the insult into fuel:“Every entrepreneur is a hawker—one who bravely delivers their dream to society.”
The Breakthrough:
Upcycling Waste into Worth cIn 2012, Sonia noticed the fabric offcuts piling up near her sewing machine—an emblem of industry waste and environmental burden. She saw potential, not disposal. By upcycling these remnants into jewelry, apparel, and home décor, she launched a distinctive, eco-friendly craft approach. She also began sourcing offcuts from other women entrepreneurs for a modest fee—turning waste into income, materials, and community impact.
The Umbrella Model (Enterprise + Inclusion) :
Soptodha Polli has grown into an ecosystem employing approximately 75 people, combining business units with registered social bodies:
A. Business Units
★Soptodha Polli Crafts & Fashion (Main Unit): Upcycled jewelry, eco-friendly clothing, handcrafted décor.★Soptodha Polli Danapani: Healthy local food processing & catering that strengthens rural supply chains.
★Soptodha Polli Krishti: Preservation and production of Satranji (traditional mats) and jute products.
★Soptodha Polli Women Development Organization (Department of Women Affairs)
★Soptodha Polli Youth Development Organization (Department of Youth Development)
★Soptodha Polli Women Cooperative Society Ltd. (Cooperative Department)
★Soptodha Polli Alokbortika (Cultural & Social Organization)
Meaning of the Name:
Seven Streams, Rural Roots Soptodha—the seven streams—symbolizes nature’s elements, life’s colors, and our multi-faceted purpose, weaving economy, environment, culture, and society into one thread.
Polli—our rural heritage—honors skilled artisans, village traditions, and the continuity of Bangladesh’s folk craft.What We Do: Training, Craft, and Community
Sonia is now a trainer and mentor for Green Entrepreneurs. Through programs in tailoring, block-batik, handicrafts, and jewelry-making, Soptodha Polli nurtures skills, self-reliance, and market linkages. Our model proves you can turn waste into wealth, reduce environmental impact, and generate dignified employment through social inclusion.Our Promise:
“Every product transforms waste into worth—an inclusive signature of dignity, creativity, and economic liberation.”
CTAs: Shop Now • Partner with Us • Train with Us • Support Rural Artisans.
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